Breathe!

Breath is essential for survival, and breathing the first and most basic activity we learn. On average, we breathe 22,000 times a day, and how we breathe is crucial to good health and longevity. The deeper, slower and smoother we breathe, the more prana (life-force) we provide to the physiology. Deep breathing forces us to slow down and relax, helping over the long-term to fight the effects of stress.

From the perspective of modern science as well, more oxygen to the blood, brain and mucles helps elevate energy levels and maximize mental performance. But because of sheer lack of attention to this most basic of functions and the multiple stressors we are bombarded with all day long, few of us remember to breathe deeply or correctly. We take quick shallow breaths hurriedly, often through the mouth instead of the nose, as we rush about our daily activities. It’s time to re-learn how to breathe for health and longevity.

Pranayama is a traditional series of breathing exercises often taught with yoga. If you can, find a good yoga instructor to instruct you in this ancient science of breathing for health. Even if you do not learn pranayama, stay attentive to how you breathe, and you will automatically start to breathe deeper and slower. It is also good to set aside some times during the day for aware breathing - as upon awaking, before going to bed, before workouts, before and during meditation etc. Deep breathing before bed can hasten sleep and improve the quality of sleep. Breathing deeper before exercising helps enhance energy levels and increase the output from your workouts. During times of pressure, sit down and breathe deeply before you respond.

Drink water

The elixir of life is the second most important ingredient for well-being, and again, one that is often overlooked by many of us. Water is essential not only for re-hydration but also forms the basis of good blood, dewy skin and healthy body tissues. Every cell in your body, as well as the space between cells, every tissue and every organ needs water.

From the perspective of modern science as well, drinking about one-half of your weight in fluid ounces of water each day is essential for health. While Ayurvedic healers do not specify a blanket quantity, they recommend using your urine as a guide to whether you need to drink more water - if your urine is not clear or it looks too concentrated, you need more water. Inadequate water can cause headaches and grogginess and more severe dehydration has even more serious health repercussions. As we grow older, our body’s thirst signals become weaker, and it is then even more important to remember to drink enough water through the day.

While we need to drink a lot of water through the day, it’s important to sip the water over time rather than gulp down large quantities at a time. Do not drink too much water just before or during a meal. Ayurvedic healers also recommend spice teas - water boiled with therapeutic spices for added health benefit. Also, remember that it’s important to drink water-milk, caffeinated and alcoholic drinks do not count. Fruits and vegetables with high water content, fruit and vegetable juices and clear soups suited to your constitution are helpful, but it is also important to drink just plain pure water each day. Make sure the water you drink is pure; have your drinking water tested for purity and use a good filter.

Eat Right

This is an exhortation Ayurvedic healers never tire of voicing over and over again. The right kind and quantity of food is so important that it is accorded an even higher status than medicine in Ayurveda. ‘Annaha brahmaha’ goes the Ayurvedic saying  - Food is divine. Eating inappropriate foods or following poor eating routines and habits not only have short-term repercussions on energy levels, mental clarity and emotional well-being, they also seriously damage health and well-being over the long-term sometimes causing irreversible damage to the physiology and shortening our life-span.

Ayurvedic healers do not have a one-size-fits-all approach to diet and nutrition. Your dietary needs are unique to you, and you have to develop the diet that is ideal for you over time. There are general guidelines for food choices for people with more or less of each of the three doshas - vata, pitta and kapha -in their prakriti (original constitution) and vikriti (current state of the doshas), but within these general guidelines you can choose what works best for you. Listen to your physiology carefully and it will guide you to the foods that enhance not just your physical but also mental and emotional balance. Whatever your food choices, eat pure, fresh, whole, natural foods.

Follow a good eating routine. Do not take short-cuts with your meals, sandwiching them between other activities. Treat mealtimes as sacred. Prepare and cook your food with loving care and attention and eat in silence or in a harmonious atmosphere. Prepared lovingly and eaten with gratitude and reverence, the food will turn to ojas in your system - the substance that Ayurveda defines as the essence of life and the finest product of the eating and digestion process.

Sleep

Another basic for health and longevity, sleep is becoming a rare commodity for many in our frenetic, 24/7 society. According to Ayurveda as well as modern science, sleep is essential for our minds and bodies to recharge and prepare for the next day.

Lack of sleep impairs the digestion, contributes to ama accumulation, clouds the brain and places greater demands on every part of the physiology with each passing day. Modern science has linked sleep deprivation to elevated blood pressure, obesity and depression.

Ayurveda does not prescribe eight hours of sleep each night for everyone. You have to determine the sleep quota that is adequate for you to function at peak levels by monitoring your sleep and activity levels over a period of time. Times of extra pressure need to be compensated with extra sleep time.

The quality of sleep is as important as the quantity of sleep you get. Ayurveda defines the most productive sleep as occurring when the mind, the charioteer of the senses, is completely disengaged from the senses. Sleep obtained in the earlier part of the night is more productive, so go to bed early, definitely before 10 pm, and arise early, before 6 am. Aromatherapy, a soothing cup of herbal tea, deep breathing and a bedtime lower limb massage can all help you fall asleep easier and enjoy a deeper, more restful quality of sleep. Abhyanga, the daily Ayurvedic massage, is also helpful for promoting a better quality of sleep.

Exercise

Just as good quality sleep at night is essential to help the physiology recharge, adequate levels of physical and mental activity during the day are important for well-being and longevity. The Ayurvedic daily routine encompasses both physical exercise and mental activity, and the view of modern science as well is that the admonition - use it or lose it - is equally valid for your muscles as it is for your brain.

As with diet and sleep, Ayurvedic healers recommend structuring an exercise program that is ideal for your needs. If you are trying to balance Kapha dosha, for instance, you would choose more robust forms of exercise such as aerobics, singles tennis or long-distance jogging. If you are trying to keep Pitta in balance, swimming in summer and skiing in winter might be options to investigate. Walking and yoga are universally beneficial because they can be tailored to individual needs, and convenient because they need no special equipment, can be done alone and everyday.

Exercise early in the day for increased energy levels during the day and ease of falling asleep at night. Do not exercise on an empty stomach or just after a meal. Do not exercise to the point of pain or exhaustion. Moderation in exercise is the key to balance.

To stay in shape mentally, make lifelong learning an integral part of life. Travel, enjoy new experiences, read, do puzzles, or take up a new hobby or project to keep the mind sharp and alert. Gardening, music, teaching and volunteering are examples of activities that can be mentally enriching and emotionally and spiritually rewarding. If your work involves intense mental activity, stay recharged by taking frequent short breaks to breathe deeply, stretch or drink some water.

Meditate

Take thirty minutes each day to recharge body, mind, senses, heart and spirit with meditation. Research shows that meditation helps enhance your ability to manage stress, it promotes mental clarity and emotional balance and does wonders for physical health from promoting good sleep to reducing hypertension.

Meditation can be done in the morning or the evening or both morning and evening. Meditate in a silent, serene atmosphere, in a room free of clutter or amid nature. Sit erect, facing east or north, and start with a few minutes of aware breathing before beginning your meditation. After your meditation, take a few minutes to rest quietly before resuming your daily routine. The aroma of pure sandalwood and Ayurvedic herbs such as Brahmi can help enhance the quality of your meditation.

by Shreelata Suresh

Shreelata Suresh is a yoga instructor from the Bay Area, and she writes on yoga and Ayurveda for different publications. To subscribe to free newsletters on Ayurveda, or for more information, please visit http://www.ayurbalance.com.

Disclaimer:
Information provided in this article is for the sole purpose of imparting education on Ayurveda and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you have a medical condition, please consult your physician.

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Where does the balance come from?

It’s thought that food makes the man, and in this case it could be true. Food gives us more than a wonderful culinary experience; it also provides our bodies with the strength to heal and to correct the balance of Yin and Yang. An imbalance in Yin and Yang energies creates a number of problems, including pain, insomnia, tumors, blood loss and a whole host of irritating and often frustrating ailments. But with the right foods (either rich in cooling or heating elements) this imbalance can be corrected preventing illness, lessening pain and giving you a much longer, healthier life. Now, when we’re talking about Yin and Yang foods (or cold and hot foods), it’s not about the temperature of the food, but rather the effect the food has on the body. Cold foods provide less energy, and help to balance the hot foods. Hot foods, on the other hand, are high in calories and energy and can be used to treat general weakness.

How do you balance everything?

When you’re suffering and shivering in cold conditions, you’ll probably be more likely to eat foods that are warm in flavor (and temperature) – think of all those wonderful soupy dishes you crave on a cold day. You’re also more likely to avoid cold and raw foods. So just what will warm you up? Anything with a spice like nutmeg, mustard, peppers, ginger, curry and black peppers are considered hot. Warmer foods are coffee, chicken, cuttlefish, garlic, green onions, guava, organ meats, rosemary, seeds and nuts, and of course, wine. In hot climates, such as in Singapore or during the Shanghai summer, you are likely to want cooler foods to ward off anxiety, hemorrhoids, fever, and even insomnia. Head towards foods like bamboo shoots, clams, crabs, grapefruit, kelp, watermelons, most green leafy vegetables, pears, and generally most fruits, to keep cool when things heat up. There are neutral foods too, that you can eat in any condition and any climate. Just add healthy doses of apricots, beets, black fungus, Chinese cabbage, carp, chicken eggs, corn, figs, lotus and papayas to your diet to keep things varied and interesting.

Knowing Your Yin/Yang Body Type

It’s believed that each person is categorized into different body types. Your body’s metabolism and organ functions will determine how it reacts with the environment.

1. The Yin or Cold Type: These people tend to be frailer and feel cold easily. They’re the ones you’ll spot drinking hot soups and steaming mugs of coffee or hot chocolate. Notice the quiet, fair-skinned person in the corner? They’re likely to be the Yin type. If you get the chance (although I’m not sure how), you’ll also find that their tongue appears pink and bulky with a whitish coating.
2. Yang or Hot Type: That hot-tempered insomniac you know; he could be a Yang type. They’re often sturdily built and feel warm. They’ll pick a nice cold drink anytime and have a slightly reddish complexion. If there’s a change in temperatures (usually when it starts getting hot), they’ll be the first to feel it. If you look at their tongues, it’ll appear red with a yellowish coating.
3. Phlegm or Damp Type: Sweet foods are what attract the damp type the most, and they tend to feel tired and sleepy during the day while snoring down the house at night. Armed with low metabolic rates, they’re more prone to being overweight or bloated due to water retention. They may look fat, but really they’re just lethargic. Their tongue looks moist and bulky, often with a greasy coating.
4. Dry type: If you’ve got a friend that drinks like there’s no tomorrow because they are always thirsty, they could be the dry type. Watch out for the one who always has a cough, is skinny like a stick and doesn‘t put on weight easily. Because of the dryness they feel, they tend to have itchier skins, nose or eyes and constipation, and will be the first to get affected by low levels of humidity.
5. Neutral type: There are some lucky ones who are in between – a nice balance of everything. They’re healthy with a normal skin color, get enough food and sleep and don’t feel hot or cold easily. Needless to say, they’ve probably got the best-looking tongue among the lot.

With all of this information, you should know one size doesn’t fit all. Some people can be a mix of a few different types not fit neatly into a category. When you’re planning your diet, consider talking to your doctor or your TCM practitioner for their best advice, so you’ll be able to get the right balance for your health.

Edited by Lisa Rochester, based on an article by By Deborah Giam; The Living Room.

Have a flu-free family

The best preventative step you can take to fight the flu? Get a shot. This quick stick in the arm is 70 to 90 percent effective in protecting you from the common influenza viruses that send over 100,000 people to the hospital each year (and, contrary to common belief, a flu shot will not cause you to get the flu). The same goes for your kids, too – though not all parents agree. Even though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strongly recommends vaccinations for all children six months to 18 years old, a recent study indicates that 60 percent of parents opted not to get their children a flu shot in the past two years. Your health care provider should offer the shot at your kid’s next check-up. You can also visit the Visiting Nurses Associations of America to find a flu clinic near you.

Signs of the flu

Sometimes, there’s no stopping the flu from creeping into your system. And when it does, you’ll be well aware of its presence by the very sudden onset of aches and pains, chills and extreme lethargy. Other signs? A dry cough, flushed skin and a high fever (up to 104 degrees F.), which may last three to five days. (On the other hand, you may have a cold if you’re congested with a low or mild fever, you don’t have chills, and you aren’t extremely achy).

What to do when you have the flu

Since the flu is highly contagious (you can start infecting other people one day before your symptoms even show up), you’ll want to stay away from work and other social settings for five days after becoming sick. During that time, get plenty of rest, drink fluids to replenish those lost by dehydration due to your fever, and, if necessary, take over-the-counter medication like decongestants, cough medicines, and acetaminophen or ibruprofen to treat your stuffy nose, cough and fever. Since an untreated case of a severe flu can lead to bronchitis, ear and sinus infections, and even pneumonia, see your doctor if your symptoms persist for longer than a week, or you are experiencing shortness of breath, severe pain, persistent vomiting or a consistent lightheaded feeling.

Go germ-free

Stop the spread of the flu virus around your house by following these simple steps, courtesy of Say “Boo!” to the Flu program.

• Regularly wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds.
• Disinfect the surfaces that you and your family touch most frequently — like doorknobs, light switches, faucets or plastic toys.
• Cough and sneeze into your elbow instead of your hands to help prevent the spread of germs from touch.
• Eat right, exercise and get plenty of sleep to help boost your body’s ability to fight the effects of colds and the flu.

Click here for alternative of natural nutritional food that will increase your Immune system, energy, stamina and athletic performance

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And yet, some children appear to have a greater natural resistance to contagious diseases. These are the lucky kids who either do not get sick or who always seem to bounce back quickly whenever they do catch a bug. The good news is that you can help your children to be the same way by following a few healthy guidelines.

Are Your Children Eating Themselves Sick?
TV commercials try to persuade kids to choose fast foods, high-fat snacks, high-sugar drinks and cereals. This type of diet cannot keep your children healthy. To the contrary, it actually suppresses the immune system and increases the risk of disease. The typical modern diet is also largely responsible for the recent epidemic of childhood obesity. Children who are overweight are likely to become overweight adults. They may develop type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and other illnesses that can follow them into adulthood. Overweight children can also suffer from stress, sadness and low self-esteem.

Lose Weight Naturally with Goji

In an important study, goji’s master molecule polysaccharides were shown to reduce body weight by enhancing the conversion of food into energy instead of fat.

Eating well and being physically active are keys to your child’s well-being. The combination of a healthy diet and regular exercise will not only help to keep them well when they’re young, but will also build up their resistance to disease and protect them later in life.

All children benefit from healthy eating and physical activity. A balanced diet and being active help children:

• grow
• learn
• build strong bones and muscles
• have energy
• maintain a healthy weight
• avoid obesity-related diseases like type 2 diabetes
• get plenty of nutrients
• feel good about themselves

Shaping Good Eating and Activity Habits for Your Child

Parents play a big role in shaping children’s eating habits. When parents eat a variety of foods that are low in fat and sugar and high in fiber, children learn to like these foods as well. It may take 10 or more tries before a child accepts a new food, so do not give up if your child does not like a new food right away.

Parents have an effect on children’s physical activity habits as well. You can set a good example by going for a walk or bike ride after dinner instead of watching television. Playing ball or jumping rope with your children shows them that being active is fun.

Tips for Parents:

• Make sure your child eats breakfast. Breakfast provides children with the energy they need to listen and learn in school.
• Offer your child a wide variety of foods such as grains, vegetables, fruits, low-fat dairy products and lean meat or beans.
• Talk with your health care provider if you are concerned about your child’s eating habits or weight.
• Cook with less fat. Bake, roast or poach foods in stead of frying.
• Limit the amount of added sugar in your child’s diet.
• Involve your child in planning and preparing meals. Children may be more willing to eat the dishes they help make.
• Be a role model for your children. If they see you being physically active and having fun, they are more likely to be active and stay active throughout their lives.
• Encourage your child to be active everyday. Involve the whole family in activities like hiking, biking, dancing, basketball or roller skating.

Other Ways to Safeguard the Health of Your Child

• Eliminate secondhand smoke — According to Dr. Beverly Kingsley of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 toxins. Kids are more susceptible than adults to the harmful effects of secondhand smoke. It increases a child’s risk of SIDS, bronchitis, ear infections and asthma. It may also affect intelligence and neurological development. If you absolutely can’t quit smoking, you can reduce your child’s health risks considerably by smoking only outside the house.
• Enforce regular sleep — Many older children, especially high school students, are sleep-deprived. Irregular sleep reduces activity of natural killer cells, a key immune function. Parents should help their children plan schedules that permit eight to ten hours of sleep per night.
• For children of any age, daytime relaxation can produce important health benefits. A period of quiet, focused relaxation each day relieves anxiety, improves nighttime sleep and stimulates immune function.

Goji for Pleasant Dreams

Goji has enjoyed long use throughout Asia in the natural treatment of insomnia. As a wholesome food, it has none of the dangers associated with sleeping pills.

Goji — Immune Power for Your Child

One of the most beneficial uses of goji is its ability to strengthen the immune system to protect your child against disease. In traditional Asian medicine, the goji berry is renowned as an adaptogen, meaning that it has a rare ability to help your child to adapt to adverse conditions. In dozens of laboratory and clinical studies, goji has been shown to boost immune function. With daily use, it supports the body’s own processes to maintain peak health and prevent development of disease.

Usual Dosage Level
For growing children, research suggests a daily usage of 2 to 4 ounces of high-quality standardized goji juice, taken with meals or before exercise or play activities.
Article Copyright:Health Watch Weekly Freelife International

DISCLAIMER: The article is to provide information on goji berry (“Lycium Barbarum”). The information contained within is collected from extracts of educational material from the latest scientific evidence available in the internet and public domain. No statements herein have been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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Babies born by Caesarean section are more likely to develop asthma than children delivered naturally, Swiss researchers said on Tuesday.

There has been conflicting evidence on the link between asthma and C-sections but the researchers said the number of children involved in their study and a long monitoring period strengthened their results.

The findings also underscore the potential risks of elective C-sections as more women in Western countries choose to avoid a natural birth, the researchers said in the medical journal, Thorax.

“The increased rate of Caesarean section is partly due to maternal demand without medical reason,” Caroline Roduit of Kinderspital Zurich medical institution and colleagues wrote.

“In this situation the mother should be informed of the risk of asthma for her child, especially when the parents have a history of allergy or asthma.”

Asthma, which affects more than 300 million people worldwide , is the most common pediatric chronic illness. Symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing and chest tightness.

Babies born by C-section are not exposed to their mother’s bacteria when they pass through the birth canal — something that helps prime the immune system and could explain the increased risk, the researchers
said.

The Swiss findings are based on nearly 3,000 children whose respiratory health was monitored until age eight. By this time, about 12 percent, or 362 children, had been diagnosed with asthma for which a doctor had prescribed inhaled steroids.

About 9 percent of the children were born by C-section but these babies were nearly 80 percent more likely to develop asthma compared to those born vaginally, the researchers said.

The association was even stronger for the 9 percent of the children with two allergic parents who were already more predisposed to the respiratory condition, they wrote.

The findings follow a Norwegian study in July suggesting babies born by C-section have a moderately increased asthma risk. Other studies have found no link between C-sections and a child’s long-term health, including asthma.

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CUTS RISK 94% - Ventilation could disperse carbon dioxide

SIDS is the leading cause of 2,500 infants death aged 1 month to 1 year old annually , and the third leading cause of overall infant mortality in the United States , and deaths tend to peak in winter months. SIDS isn’t any one illness or disease, it is frightening because it can strike without warning, usually in a seemingly healthy infant.

Although many studies have been performed, yet no one could tell for sure what the cause of SIDS is. Based on studies, the American Academy of Pediatrics has some recommendations to reduce SIDS risks, which include avoiding cigarettes during pregnancy and breastfeeding, avoiding use of soft bedding and putting the baby to sleep on his back instead of tummy sleeping.

One theory says SIDS occurs due to the buildup of carbon dioxide when infants with inadequate sleep arousal responses re-breathe exhaled air trapped by soft bedding or proximity to other sleeping family members. These babies may have brain abnormalities that prevent them from gasping and waking when they don’t get enough oxygen.

It’s cheap, it’s easy, it’s not going to harm the baby, as long as you use a bedroom fan, your baby’s risk of SIDS decreases considerably, according to a new study published in October 6 issue of Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine. Could it be this simple? Moving air, from a fan, is all you need to prevent SIDS?

According to a recent study Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, California, published in October’s Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, a fan use might be another way to prevent SIDS. The result indicates fan use was linked to a 94 percent decrease in SIDS risks for infants who slept in rooms that exceeded 70 degrees Fahrenheit (above 21 degrees Celcius) and to an 84% decrease for babies who slept in rooms with closed windows . The findings were based on a survey of 185 mothers whose babies died of SIDS and mothers of more than 300 randomly selected babies.

A fan in the room improve air circulation and can help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome because it preventing the “re-breathing” exhaled air. As the baby breathes exhaled air, the oxygen level in the body drops and carbon dioxide accumulates which could contribute to SIDS.

Sleeping in a room with an open window was found to reduce the risk of SIDS by 36%, while sleeping with a fan in the room was associated with a 72% reduction in risk. The risk reduction with fan use was even greater in babies who were put to bed on their stomachs or had other sleep-related SIDS risk factors.
Parents who worry that their child will be chilled by a fan should know that fans do not cool the air, they simply move air around. However, parents should make sure to take normal safety precautions, keeping cords out of the way and making sure the fan can’t be knocked down by a toddler or pet.

The lead author of the study, De-Kun Li, MD, PhD said although the use of fans and sleeping in a room with an open window was also found to lower the risk by more than 70%, however the fan use should not replace other sleeping strategies for lowering SIDS:

• Avoiding soft bedding: pillow, waterbed, sheepskin, or other soft surface in cribs Place your baby on a firm mattress to sleep. To prevent “re-breathing”, do not put blankets, comforters, stuffed toys, or pillows near the baby.
• Although babies can be brought into their parents’ bed for nursing or comforting, they should not share the bed when parents are sleeping.
• Pacifiers also seem to protect babies, the researchers said, perhaps because the handles prevent a child’s face from becoming pressed against the mattress. A research study in 2005 found that use of a pacifier cut the risk of SIDS by 90%. Sleeping in.
• There’s strong evidence that overheating may significantly raise the risk of SIDS. Overheating can result from overheated room, wrapping or covering a baby with too many blankets, particularly when baby has a fever or respiratory infection. Keep the room at a temperature that feels comfortable for an adult in a short-sleeve shirt.
• Do not smoke, drink, or use drugs while pregnant. Infants of mothers who smoked during pregnancy are three times more likely to die of SIDS than those whose mothers were smoke-free; exposure to secondhand smoke doubles a baby’s risk of SIDS.
• Do not expose your baby to secondhand smoke.
• Receive early and regular prenatal care.
• Make sure your baby has regular well-baby checkups.
• Breastfeed, if possible. There is some evidence that breastfeeding may help decrease the incidence of SIDS.

Growing public awareness of SIDS and the steps to reduce infants’ risk of sudden death hopefully will leave fewer parents searching for answers in the future for protecting their infants from SIDS tragedy.

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What is SIDS?
SIDS, or a sudden and unexplained death of a baby younger than one year old, kills about 2,500 infants annually and is the leading cause of death in that age group, with 90 percent of cases in infants under 6 months and occurs most frequently during cold-weather months.

SIDS isn’t any one illness or disease, it’s the diagnosis given when an infant under a year old dies suddenly, strike without warning, usually in a seemingly healthy infant

Although SIDS is also known as crib death because it happens most often during sleep, usually between the hours of 10 p.m. and 10 a.m., however night isn’t the only time that SIDS strikes. It’s important to know that 20 percent of SIDS deaths happen in childcare settings (considerably high number if you consider that babies spend much less time sleeping at daycare than they do at home), according to a study published in the journal of Pediatrics in 2000.

What causes SIDS?

Although many research study have been executed, yet no definitive answer of the cause of SIDS are to be found.

Some researchers believe SIDS happens when a baby with an underlying abnormality (for example, a brain defect that affects breathing) sleeps tummy-down or is exposed to an environmental challenge such as secondhand smoke during a critical period of growth. While other research has published studies contradict to this hypothesis.

Numerous studies are continuing to study the brain, the autonomic nervous system, infant care and sleep environments, infection and immunity, and genetics in search of answers.

Which babies are most at risk?

Although the exact cause of SIDS is still unknown, some risk factors have been identified, such as:

• Tummy sleeping
  Foremost among these risk factors is tummy sleeping. A baby’s risk of SIDS has been found to be 1.7 to 12.9 percent higher if he sleeps on his tummy instead of his back. Numerous studies have found a higher incidence of SIDS among babies placed on their stomachs to sleep than among those sleeping on their backs or sides. Some researchers have hypothesized that stomach sleeping, When a baby sleeps tummy-down he’s more likely to overheat, puts pressure on a baby’s jaw, therefore narrowing the airway and hampering breathing i.e.: pauses in breathing, and re-breathe the air just exhaled. As the baby breathes exhaled air, the oxygen level in the body drops and carbon dioxide accumulates and could contribute to SIDS.

  Babies who succumb to SIDS may have an abnormality in the arcuate nucleus, the brain part that control breathing and awakening during sleep. If a baby is breathing stale air and not getting enough oxygen, the brain usually triggers the baby to wake up and cry. However a problem with the arcuate nucleus could deprive the baby of this involuntary reaction and put it at greater risk for SIDS.

• Sleeping on soft surface
  A soft mattress or with bedding, stuffed toys, quilts, comforters, sofas, waterbeds, beanbags, and other soft surfaces or a pillow near the face are all unsafe for a baby to sleep on and increase a higher risk of SIDS. Similar to tummy sleeping, soft surfaces increase the chance that your baby will encounter problems with breathing or overheating. It creates a small enclosure around the baby’s mouth and trap exhaled air. As the baby breathes exhaled air, the oxygen level in the body drops and carbon dioxide accumulates.
• Overheating
  There’s strong evidence that overheating may significantly raise the risk of SIDS. Overheating can result from overheated room, wrapping or covering a baby with too many blankets, particularly when baby has a fever or respiratory infection. Keep the room at a temperature that feels comfortable for an adult in a short-sleeve shirt.
• Secondhand smoke exposure
  Studies indicate a baby’s risk of SIDS increases with the number of and the length of cigarettes smoked exposure around the infant each day.
• Drinking alcohol, smoking and drugs use mother
  Drinking alcohol, smoking and drugs use during pregnancy can compromise a baby’s healthy development.
• Teen Mother
  The risk of SIDS increases for baby born to a teen mother.
• Low birth weight premature baby
  Premature baby has a higher his risk of SIDS. The lower the birth weight, the higher the risk as well.
• Being a boy
  Boys is more prone having higher risk of SIDS than girls by a ratio of 1.5 to 1.
• Ethnic backgrounds
  African-American infants are twice as likely and Native American infants are about three times more likely to die of SIDS than Caucasians. Asian, who have a cultural preference placing infants on their back, have had a lower than average risk for SIDS. When they migrate to North America and began placing babies on their tummy, their SIDS rates rose.

Growing public awareness of SIDS and the steps to reduce infants’ risk of sudden death hopefully will leave fewer parents searching for answers in the future for protecting their infants from SIDS tragedy.

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